South African jazz composer and pianist Abdullah Ibrahim has died at the age of 91. His family announced his death in a statement released on Monday.

“Abdullah passed away peacefully with South Africa and its people in his heart,” wrote his partner, Dr Marina Umari. “His love for his country never wavered, no matter where in the world he found himself.”

Ibrahim died in Germany after a short illness. Born in Cape Town as Dollar Brand, he started composing music at age seven and made his professional debut at 15. He became a known figure in local jazz circles in the 1950s before recording an album with the Jazz Epistles in 1960.

“Jazz Epistle Verse One” was the first full-length jazz LP by Black South African musicians. Their music was not explicitly political, but they were still targeted by the government.

Ibrahim moved to Europe in the 1960s, where he met Duke Ellington. He recorded with Ellington before moving to New York in 1965. “I always say we never thought of Ellington as an African American – we thought of him as a wise old man in the village,” Ibrahim said in 2024.

In the US, he performed at the Newport jazz festival and embarked on a solo tour, also stepping in for Ellington on several occasions. “We don’t really leave,” he said in 1984 about moving away from South Africa. “It’s a tactical retreat. We regard ourselves as cultural freedom fighters.”

He converted to Islam in 1968 and changed his name to Abdullah Ibrahim. Over his career, he recorded more than 70 albums, the most recent released in 2023. His most famous piece, “Mannenberg”, recorded in 1974, became a major anti-apartheid anthem and reportedly inspired Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment.

Ibrahim also worked on film soundtracks for Claire Denis dramas “No Fear, No Die” and “Chocolat”. He won several awards, including the German Jazz Trophy and a South African music lifetime achievement award.

His final solo performance was at the Cape Town international jazz festival in March.

Source: www.theguardian.com